Monday, February 05, 2007

Big-screen comings and goings

According to a story in today’s Hollywood Reporter, Shawn Levy, director of the box-office hit “Night at the Museum,” has stepped in to direct Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Flash.” David Goyer had been attached to write, direct and produce the “Flash” feature, but disclosed Friday that he was no longer with the project.

Studio and agency sources, meanwhile, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Joss Whedon was off the “Wonder Woman” movie. Whedon announced the news at the Whedonesque Web site on Friday. “Let me stress first that everybody at the studio and Silver Pictures were cool and professional,” wrote Whedon, who had been signed to write and direct the movie. “We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work.”

I’m not happy with either development. Goyer, known for several comic-book projects and movies (“Blade,” “Batman Begins”) knows his comic-book characters. It looks like Levy is aiming for a lighter touch, which would work with “The Flash,” I suppose, as long as he doesn’t make it TOO light. And Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” seemed well-suited to “Wonder Woman.” Obviously he’s no stranger to writing strong women characters, and I was looking forward to his take on the Amazon princess.